Understanding why Overwatch League casters avoided McCree’s name and what it reveals about Blizzard’s internal culture crisis
The Broadcast Shift: Casters’ Deliberate Avoidance
A noticeable change occurred during Overwatch League broadcasts in August 2021 when commentators Brennon ‘Bren’ Hook and Josh ‘Sideshow’ Wilkinson systematically avoided using the name “Jesse McCree” during matches.
Throughout the first weekend of August matches, these experienced commentators implemented creative workarounds rather than speaking the cowboy hero’s established name. They consistently referred to the DPS character as “the cowboy,” used player identifiers, or mentioned his signature peacekeeper revolver weapon instead. This deliberate linguistic shift didn’t go unnoticed by the observant Overwatch community.
A sharp-eyed fan highlighted this pattern on Twitter, noting “It sounds like Sideshow and Bren are avoiding the cowboy hero’s name, and I really appreciate that.” Both casters subsequently liked the tweet, confirming their intentional approach wasn’t accidental but a conscious broadcasting decision.
Other professional commentators joined this movement, with Mitch ‘Uber’ Leslie publicly stating he might adopt similar practices. His response “Huh? This is a good idea to be honest” indicated broader industry consideration of the naming issue beyond just two casters.
Behind the Name: The Real Jesse McCree Controversy
This naming avoidance coincided with significant legal challenges facing Activision Blizzard. A Kotaku investigation published screenshots from BlizzCon group chats where actual Blizzard developer Jesse McCree participated in concerning conversations.
Huh this is a good idea tbh
— Mitch Leslie (@UberShouts) August 10, 2021
Within these leaked discussions, former designer David Kosak made inappropriate comments about “gathering the hot chixx for the Coz” (allegedly referring to developers’ wives), followed by jokes about colleague Alex Afrasiabi’s relationship capacity. Jesse McCree then contributed by mocking Kosak’s spelling errors, creating additional problematic context.
These revelations created immediate tension between the in-game hero and his real-world namesake. Since the Overwatch character was explicitly named to honor developer Jesse McCree, the chat logs created uncomfortable associations for community members and professionals alike. Many players felt the character’s name now carried problematic baggage that affected their gaming experience.
A chat log in the article makes it really gross that Overwatch character Jesse McCree was named after a real life, longtime developer at Blizzard. pic.twitter.com/KWzkxNrpL9
— Overbuff (@Overbuff) July 28, 2021
Community Reactions and Renaming Pressure
The gaming community responded with extensive debate about appropriate solutions. Suggestions ranged from moderate adjustments to dramatic narrative changes within Overwatch 2’s evolving storyline.
Some advocates proposed establishing “McCree” as merely an alias, allowing for canonical renaming without disrupting established lore. More extreme voices suggested permanently removing the character through narrative means in the upcoming sequel. This spectrum of opinions highlighted how deeply players engage with Overwatch’s world-building and character integrity.
Blizzard maintained official silence regarding the cowboy hero’s future throughout this period. However, the conspicuous avoidance by official Overwatch League casters suggested internal discussions were occurring behind closed doors. When professional broadcasters employed by the league itself alter their commentary patterns, it often signals forthcoming official changes or policy adjustments.
Practical Implications for Players and Casters
For competitive players and amateur casters, this situation created immediate communication challenges. During fast-paced matches, established callouts like “McCree behind!” became problematic. Successful adaptation required developing alternative terminology that maintained tactical clarity while respecting the ethical concerns.
Common Adaptation Strategies:
– Use “cowboy” as primary identifier during team communication
– Reference character abilities instead of names (“flashbang user”)
– Employ map positions rather than character names
– Utilize player-specific callouts when known
Tournament organizers faced additional complexities, needing to establish consistent policies across all participating teams and commentators. The most successful approaches maintained competitive integrity while acknowledging the cultural sensitivities involved.
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